Labour Department calls reconciliation meeting with Darjeeling planters

SNS, SILIGURI, 14 OCTOBER 2023 : The Labour Department has finally has called a reconciliation meeting with the planters and trade unions in the Hills after the third round of bipartite meeting on bonus was inconclusive yesterday.

The Additional Labour Commissioner Kallol Banerjee, North Bengal Zone has called a meeting on bonus issue at Shramik Bhawan in Siliguri on 16 October at 2 pm.

Mr Banerjee has invited the officials of Darjeeling Tea Association (DTA) and Darjeeling Indian Tea Association (DITA) and eight trade unions operating in tea plantations located in Darjeeling, Kurseong, Mirik sub divisions and Kalimpong district.

Notably, the DTA called third round of talks with trade unions bonus issue in Darjeeling yesterday but it was ended inconclusively. In fact the trade unions walked out and boycotted the meeting after three hours of dialogues.

Trade union leaders took such decision to walk out after the planters were stick to their decision to pay bonus at the rate of 9 percent.

On the other hand, trade union leaders were demanding 19 per cent bonus for the tea workers. 

Indian Tea Association and Tea Association of India both the organisations have finally decided to pay bonus at the rate of 19 percent for the tea workers in the Terai and the Dooars region.